Safe and Secure

Summary

China and the United States have a robust economic relationship, with bilateral trade and investment flows constantly on the rise. China is currently the largest supplier of imports to the US, and America’s second-largest bilateral trade partner overall. The Chinese government has currently placed restrictions on Chinese nationals and citizens who wish to transfer money from China to the USA with caps on the amount of money that can be sent, typically $50,000 per calendar year per individual. Businesses have fewer restrictions remitting money from China to the US and Chinese businesses are encouraged to invest overseas.

Visas, work permits and residency

Chinese citizens who wish to live or work in the United States must apply for the appropriate visa or be granted permanent resident status. There are many different visa types, depending on the applicant’s profession and the desired duration of the stay. For travel or short visits lasting less than 90 days, a visitor or business visa is currently required for Chinese citizens. This can be granted after filling out the appropriate online forms and attending an in-person interview at the local American consulate or embassy. For stays over 90 days, an immigrant or non-immigrant visa is required. The EB5 Green Card program in the United States, the top destination for Chinese emigrants, requires emigrants invest US$1 million, or at least US$500,000 in a targeted employment area, according to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services. China emigrants are currently the largest contributors to the EB5 program.

Buying property in the US

There are few restrictions for non-citizens who legally reside in the United States and wish to own or rent property. However, individuals who are not permanent US residents must provide an ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) when purchasing property in America. To obtain the ITIN, the buyer must first apply with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), which may take five weeks or longer to receive. Once the ITIN is approved, the buyer may then transfer money from China to the USA to fund the purchase.

As each US state maintains its own real estate laws, it is advisable to obtain the services of a licensed attorney or real estate agent who can advise you on both local and federal real estate laws throughout the entire process. It is common to use a licensed real estate agent when buying or selling property within the United States, and most are members of NAR (the National Association of Realtors), an organization that provides a code of ethics to which members must adhere.

Taxation

In 1993 the Chinese government passed a law mandating that all Chinese residents living abroad must declare their earnings and file tax forms annually. Based on the US definition of income, the law states that all Chinese citizens living abroad must pay taxes on all worldwide income earned. However, the US and China signed anIncome Tax Convention in 1984 that prevents the double taxation of citizens or businesses in either country. In cases where there are taxes owed, there are no restrictions on international money transfers to cover these payments.

Studying in the US

China is the leading sender of international students to the United States. Before they can apply for a visa to study at an American institution, Chinese students must first apply for and be accepted to a US-based school or program. Once the student has been accepted, the school will then be responsible for supplying the necessary documents so that the student can then apply for a visa. We recommend referring to the US Embassy website for more information on student visas.

The US currently offers two types of student visas, the F-1 and M-1 visas. The F-1, the most common type, applies to academic studies at an approved school or accredited American university. Non-academic or vocational studies, or training with an American professional institution, require the M-1 visa.

Voting

Chinese citizens are not permitted to vote in American federal elections. Currently, voting for federal office is restricted to American citizens. Although states may allow non-citizens to vote, this is rare and limited to local elections in only a few places today.

Healthcare

American healthcare is considered a pay-as-you-go system, with most American citizens owning some form of health insurance, often supplied through their job. Health insurance is the way most people pay for their healthcare. It is advisable for Chinese citizens who are planning to visit or live in the US to purchase travel insurance or a short-term health insurance policy. It is mandatory for everyone to have at least the minimum levels of health insurance, or risk facing a yearly tax.

Non-citizens may participate in the two publicly-funded health plans, Medicare and Medicaid, if their income is below the minimum threshold, they have lived in the US for at least five years, and have contributed to Medicare/Social Security programmes for at least ten years.

Importing from China to the United States

In 2013, China was the largest supplier of goods imports into the United States. Imports totaled over $440bn, representing a 3.5% increase from 2012 and accounting for almost 20% of the total of all imports into the US in 2013. The largest import categories were electrical machinery, machinery, furniture and bedding, toys and sports equipment, and footwear. Agricultural imports also accounted for over $4bn, with China the third-largest agricultural supplier to the US. Two-way trade between the countries was valued $562bn in 2013, representing the second-largest goods trading partnership for America. Chinese foreign direct investment and money transfers into the United States totaled $5.2bn in 2012, dominated by the wholesale trade and banking sectors.

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